Improvement in dash-boards for vehicles



1. murmlsonf.A Dash-Boardsffor venia/les.-

,Patented May 19 No.15l

UNITED STATES Parnu-'r JOSEPH MORRISON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1531,14?, dated May 19, 1874; application Sled April 2, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MORErsoN, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Dash -Itail for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of dashes to which a neat, elegant, and durable finish is imparted by the application to the margin of the same of a metallic rim or rail. My improvement consists in securing said rail to the dash-frame in such a manner as to leave an open space or interval between the two members, this interval being provided for the purpose of facilitating the stitching wherewith the customary leathers or other coverings are applied to the dash-frame, the details and advantages of this arrangement being hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the upper part of a dash with a rail applied thereto, a portion of the leather coverings of the same being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, at the line x on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the rail and one of its attached anchoring devices removed from the dashframe. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the rail and a part of one of its attached anchoring devices. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, onan enlarged scale, of one of the anchoring devices separated both from the rail and dash-frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modication form of anchoring device. Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 represent other modifloations of the anchoring devices and their accessories.

A represents the marginal rails, which may be composed of any suitable metal, and have any appropriate shape imparted to it, .the usual round-bar form being, however, preferred, as the most convenient to handle and for support of the reins, and .at the same imparting an elegant and durable finish to the dash-board. A longitudinal kerf or groove, B, in the under side of, and extending nearly or quite the entire length of, the bar, has secured within it the horizontal portions or shanks cc of tongues or stems C C', whose thickness is less than the length of an ordinary stitch, so as not to mar the uniformity of the line of stitching, which are riveted, screwed, soldered, or otherwise ilnmovably attached to an anchoring plate, D. The shanlrs c c occupy a posit-ion at right angles to the stems C C', as more clearly shown in Fig. 5, and said shanks may be secured in the groove B with solder, as shown at b in Figs. 2, 7, and 10, or by upset ting the edges of said kerf or groove, as represented at b in Fig. 4. The lips ot' the frame being stove down into the notch d, secure the rail again st lateral deiiection ,while the do ve tails secureitagainstlongitudinaldisturbance. The ends of the anchoring-plate D are notched or recessed at d d', for a purpose which will pres ently appear. The dash-frame E (of the customary or any approved shape) has iiled or otherwise made in its upper edge a suitable number of excavations or recesses, F, whose ends are undercut at ff. These excavations are merely large enough to receive the plates D, which are slipped therein sidewise, as indicated in Fig. 3, and securedin position by hammering down the ends of said excavations. This hammering down ofthe ends f f of the excavations causes the surplus metal of frame E to enter and become embedded in the recesses d d of plate D, and the latter is thereby immovably anchored to the dash-frame. As this operation is performed upon each of the plates D, it will be readily understood that the rail is thus quickly and securely attached to the frame, and in such a manner as to leave an interval or space, G, between these two members, A and E. This space need not be very wide, as all that is necessary is simply room enough to admit the stitching H, wherewith the two customary leather or other coverings I I are securedto the dash -fI-aine. For the purpose of attaching the marginal rim to the dash-frame, as many anchoring devices may be employed as may be necessary; but it it is evident that less than two would not be practicable. l

The advantage ofthe open space or interval G is manifest at a glance; and it will be seen that the needle employed in stitching on the coverings I I is not compelled to pass through two thicknesses of sheet metal, as is the case where the rail is soldered to metallic strips, bands, or clips, that are connected to the frame; nor is it compelled to a longer stitch where the line of st-itehes passes the shanks C C than l FFICE.

,e ritmes elsewhere, because` said shanks are of less thickness than the length of a customary stitch.

In addition to the facility afforded for stitching on the coverings, this mode of construction enhances the appearance of the dash, as the rim is not crowded down close to its supporting-frame, but is removed a sufli'cient distance therefrom to give it individuality, and make it more prominent.

Besides the above-enumerated advantages, the tongues C C' aiford a more rigid and secure method of attaching the rail than can be accomplished by soldering it to thin and yielding strips of copper or other sheet metal,

as heretofore practised. rIhe drawing shows the rim applied only to the upper edge of the dash, but it is evidentl the same mode of attachment may be cmployed for finishing the sides of the frames, or the edges offenders, boots, wings, step covers or similar stiffened work of carriages or other vehicles.

The above is a description of the preferred method of forming the interval G between the rim A and frame E, which is the leading' feature of my invention, but the same result can be accomplished in various other ways-as, for example, only one shank and tongue or stem maybe secured to an anchorii'ig-plate, as seen in Fig. 6. Or the anchoringplate may be entirely dispensed with, as represented in 7, in which illustration the tongues C are shown provided with additional shanks C" that enter longitudinal grooves .I in the twopart frame K K', said two members being united by screws k whose heads are countersunk, so as not to cut or deface the leather coverings after the same are applied to the dash-board. rlhe tongues or stems C occupy 4vertical grooves j in these two members K and K'. The additional shanks c" may be bent inthe same manner as the ones c', or they may project in an opposite direction, both forms thereof being represented in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 8 the rail-molding or bead A is shown as being connected to the two-part frame K K' by a web or plate, L, having perforations I through which the thread is passed that serves to stitch together the two leather coverings of the dash. Should the maker desire to avoid stitching for some purpose, he may sink the webbed rail down, as in Fig. 9, K K' L l, the leather coverings I I' being clamped bctween the plate L and the inner surfaces of the members K K' constituting the frame of the dash. The various devices K K', L l, and I I' are secured together by screw k, whose devices are represented as simple staples N and N', whose ends are soldered or stove np wit-hin or to the rail, while the horizontal portions of said staples are seated in recesses c, which are cut in frame E, The staple N is 4shown secured to the frame E by a leather clip, O, which completely surrounds said frame, and has its ends stitched together at o. This clip may, however, be omitted, and the staple may be secured in posi-tion by being bound with stout cord or wire. Diagram Z shows the lips of the groove M in the frame, upset over the hooked extremities C" of the tongues C. The upper ends of said tongues may likewise be secured by upsetting the lips of the ail, as in Fig. 4, so as to wholly dispense with solder if desired. rIhe staple N is secured to the frame E by a short metallic band, I), which may be soldered, screwed, or riveted to said frame at p. If preferred the groove B and shan ks c may be entirely omitted, and the rail perforated at suitable intervals for the reception of the tongues G, whose upper ends may be headed down upon the surface of the said rail, or else have an ornamental nut applied to them.

It will be seen that the excavations F, recesses e, and vertical grooves j coact with the leather coverings I I', to prevent longitudinal shifting of the marginal rail.

I claim as my inventionl. r)She rail A attached by tongues'to the frame E of a dash, so as to leave an interval G to admit the stitching H, whereby the coverings I I' a-re secured to said frame, all conibined as and for the object set forth.

2. The molding A, having groove B, anchoring devices C c D d d', and excavations F ff', wherewith said rail A is secured to frame E in such a manner as to form an interval, G, all

' combined as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH MQRRISON.

itnesses Gno. H. KNrGnr, J onN Renners. 

